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Abstract:

A system and method for presenting a buddy list on an IM platform are
provided. The system includes an IM server and an IM client having a
communication connection with the IM server. The IM server stores at
least two of: a buddy database, a user information database and a status
database. The buddy database records a buddy list of each user, the user
information database records detailed information of each user, and the
status database records a current status of each user. The IM client
groups and sorts buddies in the buddy list according to the buddy list or
detailed information of a buddy or a current status of the buddy obtained
by the IM client from the IM server, and presents the buddy list
according to a grouping and sorting result. Users are enabled to select
different presenting manners and search for buddies conveniently.

Claims:

1. A system for presenting a buddy list on an instant messaging (IM)
platform, comprising an IM server and an IM client having a communication
connection with the IM server; wherein the IM server is adapted to store
at least two of a buddy database, a user information database and a
status database; the buddy database is adapted to record a buddy list for
each user; the user information database is adapted to record detailed
information of each user; the status database is adapted to record a
current status of each user; the IM client comprises a grouping and
sorting module and a buddy list presenting module; the grouping and
sorting module is adapted to group and sort buddies in the buddy list
according to at least one of the buddy list of a user, detailed
information of a buddy of the user and a current status of the buddy of
the user obtained from the IM server; and the buddy list presenting
module, having a communication connection with the grouping and sorting
module, is adapted to present the buddy list of the user according to a
grouping and sorting result from the grouping and sorting module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the detailed information of each user
in the user information database comprises time of last logon of each
user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein, at least one of the buddy database and
the user information database is a relational database.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein, the buddy database and the user
information database are implemented by one database.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the IM server comprises an IM logon
server and a buddy server having a communication connection with the IM
logon server; the IM logon server comprises a status database, a buddy
server accessing interface for accessing the buddy server, and a first
communication interface having a network connection with the IM client;
the buddy server comprises the buddy database and the user information
database, an information processing interface connected with the buddy
database and the user information database, and a second communication
interface connected with the information processing interface; the
information processing interface is adapted to process a request
forwarded by the second communication interface from external; the second
communication interface is adapted to maintain a network connection with
other modules and receive the request from the external and forward the
request to the information processing interface.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the information processing interface is
adapted to receive a request forwarded by the IM logon server from the IM
client for obtaining a buddy list via the second communication interface,
receive a request forwarded by the IM logon server from the IM client for
modifying the detailed information of a user, receive a request forwarded
by the IM logon server from the IM client for modifying a buddy list of a
user; and the information processing interface is further adapted to
query the buddy database for the buddy list of the user, and query the
user information database for detailed information of each buddy in the
buddy list of the user.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the first communication interface is
adapted to forward, when the user switches to a new status at the IM
client, the new status of the user to the status database, the status
database is adapted to modify the status of the user recorded in the
database to the new status of the user; the first communication interface
is adapted to query the status database when the user requests to obtain
a status of a buddy from the IM logon server via the IM client, and
return the status of the buddy to the IM client; the first communication
interface is adapted to forward a request to the buddy server accessing
interface when the user requests to obtain the buddy list of the user via
the IM client, and query the buddy database; the IM logon server is
adapted to send a request to the buddy server for recording detailed
information of the user into the user information database when receiving
a logon request sent by the user via the IM client.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the buddy list of the user comprises a
list of buddy identifications (ID) and configurations for buddies in the
list by a user.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the grouping and sorting module is
adapted to perform grouping and sorting according to an instruction of
the user based on one of the buddy list of the user, the detailed
information of the buddy of the user and the current status of the buddy
of the user obtained.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the grouping and sorting module is
adapted to group buddies according to one of the buddy list of the user,
the detailed information of the buddy of the user and the current status
of the buddy of the user obtained, sort buddy groups and/or buddies in
each buddy group according to at least one of the buddy list of the user,
the detailed information of the buddy of the user and the current status
of the buddy of the user.

11. A method for presenting a buddy list on an instant messaging (IM)
platform, comprising: recording, at an IM server, a buddy list of each
user, detailed information of each user, and a current status of each
user; obtaining, by an IM client from the IM server after a user logs on
the IM server via the IM client, the buddy list of the user, detailed
information of a buddy of the user, and a current status of a buddy of
the user; grouping and sorting, by the IM client according to an
instruction of the user, buddies in the buddy list of the user according
to one of the buddy list of the user, the detailed information of the
buddy of the user and the current status of the buddy of the user;
presenting, by the IM client, the buddy list of the user processed
through the grouping and sorting.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: updating, by the IM
server each time the user logs on the IM server via the IM client, the
buddy list of the user and the detailed information of the user; and
updating, by the IM server, the current status of the user recorded in
the IM server in real time according to an operation of the user at the
IM client.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the buddy list of the user comprises
a list of buddy identifications (IDs) and grouping information defined by
the user; the detailed information of the user comprises time of last
logon of the user; and the current status of the user comprises an online
status and an offline status.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the grouping and sorting the buddies
in the buddy list of the user comprises: grouping, sorting and
displaying, by the IM client according to the instruction of the user,
buddies in the buddy list of the user according to one of the grouping
information defined by the user, the time of the last logon of the
buddies and the current statuses of the buddies.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the grouping and sorting the buddies
in the buddy list of the user comprises: grouping the buddies according
to one of the buddy list of the user, the detailed information of the
buddy of the user and the current status of the buddy of the user
obtained, and sorting buddy groups and/or buddies in each buddy group
according to at least one of the buddy list of the user, the detailed
information of the buddy of the user and the current status of the buddy
of the user.

Description:

[0001] This is a continuation of International Application No.
PCT/CN2009/074374 filed Oct. 14, 2009, which in turn claims the priority
benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 200810216772.3 filed Oct. 16,
2008, the entire respective disclosures of which are incorporated herein
by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to instant messaging (IM) technology,
and particularly, to a system and method for presenting a buddy list on
an IM platform.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Web IM platforms are now popular among Internet users as an
indispensable tool for communications. Fundamental data maintained by an
IM platform is about a group of users whom a user cares about and who
communicate directly with the user via instant messaging, and the group
of users are referred to as the user's "buddies". As the time spent by
the user in communicating via the IM platform increases, a large number
of buddies may be accumulated in the user's buddy list, and an IM user
terminal presents the buddies in a list form to the user. For an IM
system, each buddy in a buddy list has the same position and importance
with the others, and has no difference from the others. But the user may
have different concerns for different buddies and may concern different
aspects for different buddies, and the differences may have impact on a
pattern adopted by the user to classify the buddies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In view of the above, a system and a method for presenting a buddy
list on an IM platform are provided, so that a user can freely and
conveniently classify buddies and customize a presenting manner of a
buddy list, and an IM client can present the buddy list with buddies
arranged in various orders.

[0005] A system for presenting a buddy list on an IM platform includes an
IM server, a plurality of IM clients connectable to the IM server for
communication. The IM server includes a buddy database recording a buddy
list for each user, a user information database recording detailed
information of each user, and a status database recording a current
status of each user. The IM client includes a grouping and sorting module
which is adapted to group and sort buddies in a buddy list and a buddy
list presenting module which is connected to the grouping and sorting
module and is adapted to present the buddy list according to a grouping
and sorting result from the grouping and sorting module. After a user
logs on the IM server from an IM client, the IM server may update data in
the buddy database, the user information database and the status
database. Further, the user may query the buddy database, the user
information database and the status database for the buddy list of the
user, detailed information of a buddy of the user, and a status of the
buddy of the user. The user may also instruct the grouping and sorting
module to group and sort buddies in the buddy list based on the buddy
list, detailed information of the buddies, or statuses of the buddies to
make the buddy list presenting module present a buddy list processed
through the grouping and sorting at the IM client of the user.

[0006] A method for presenting a buddy list on an IM platform includes:
recording, at an IM server, a buddy list for each user, detailed
information of each user, and a current status of each user;

[0007] obtaining, by an IM client from the IM server after a user logs on
the IM server from the IM client, the buddy list for the user, detailed
information of a buddy of the user, and a current status of the buddy;

[0008] grouping and sorting, by the IM client according to an instruction
of the user, buddies in the buddy list of the user based on the buddy
list for the user, the detailed information of the buddy of the user or
the current status of the buddy of the user;

[0009] presenting, by the IM client, the buddy list processed through the
grouping and sorting.

[0010] The system and method for presenting a buddy list on an IM platform
enable a user to choose different presenting manners according to
different aspects concerned by the user about buddies, which facilitates
the user to search for a buddy in the buddy list. Furthermore, the system
and method has good extensibility, i.e., when a buddy list is required to
be presented in a new manner according to a new feature, it is only
needed to add data into the databases and perform another grouping and
sorting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] To make the technical solutions and merits thereof more apparent,
detailed implementation of the present invention will be described
hereafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] Among the accompanying drawings:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating conventional
classification of IM buddies of an IM user according to natural quality
of the IM buddies;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional manner
for recording grouping of buddies of an IM user;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional manner
for recording grouping of buddies of an IM user;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating several user statuses in
conventional QQ;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional method
for presenting a buddy list based on groups on an IM client;

[0018]FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for presenting a buddy
list on an IM platform in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;

[0019] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a primary structure of a
system for presenting a buddy list on an IM platform in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a general structure of a
system for presenting a buddy list on an IM platform in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a server
in a system for presenting a buddy list on an IM platform in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a logon
server in a system for presenting a buddy list on an IM platform in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of an IM
client in a system for presenting a buddy list on an IM platform in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a presenting manner
customized by a user in a system for presenting a buddy list on an IM
platform in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a presenting manner
according to the latest logon time of buddies in a system for presenting
a buddy list on an IM platform in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;

[0026] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a presenting manner
according to buddy statuses in a system for presenting a buddy list on an
IM platform in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The present invention is further explained hereinafter in detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings as well as embodiments so as
to make the objective, technical solution and merits thereof more
apparent. It should be understood that the embodiments herein are used
only for explaining the present invention and shall not be used for
limiting the protection scope of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating conventional
classification of IM buddies of an IM user according to natural quality
of the buddies. Some users may adopt the manner shown in FIG. 1 to
classify IM buddies according to the natural quality such as classmates
or colleagues; some may classify IM buddies according to chatting
frequency. Therefore, when a buddy list is to be presented on an IM user
terminal, various factors should be taken into consideration for
classifying and organizing buddies to help the user memorize the buddies
and to increase the dependency of the user on the buddy list.

[0029] Considering different concerns of the user for the buddies, current
IM platforms have put forward the concept of buddy grouping based on the
buddy list. The user may divide buddies in the buddy list into several
categories and designate a group attribute for each buddy according to
the user's willingness. The groups defined by the user and buddies in
each group are recorded in a database in a server. When the user logs on
an IM client, the IM client may synchronize information of the groups
with the server automatically so that the grouping remains consistent
even if the user logs on the IM client from a different user terminal, a
different location or a different circumstance. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3
respectively illustrate conventional manners for recording grouping of
buddies of an IM user. Manner one, as shown in FIG. 2, includes adding an
attribute to each buddy for recording which group the buddy belongs to,
and each buddy belongs to one group. Manner two, as shown in FIG. 3,
includes adding an attribute to each group for recording which buddies
belong to the group, and each group includes a plurality of buddies.
Manner two may result in a situation that one buddy belongs to two or
more groups at the same time while manner one only permits a buddy to
belong to a single group. Management of groups is much simpler for the
user when manner one is adopted.

[0030] Besides, buddies of an IM user may be classified into two
categories according to statuses: online and offline, which is based on
whether each buddy has logged on via an IM client or not. Taking a
currently popular IM tool QQ as an example, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram
illustrating a few user statuses in conventional QQ. As shown in FIG. 4,
the online category in QQ is further divided into sub categories
including Q me, busy, away, mute and invisible. After logging on, a buddy
may choose from the sub categories of the online category to represent
his current status as well as whether he/she is willing to accept an IM
conversation. Those sub categories and the offline category are referred
to as statuses. For example, a buddy may choose the busy status when not
willing to accept an IM conversation, or choose the invisible status when
not willing to let others know he/she has logged on an IM client. Buddies
in different statuses are presented in different manners in a buddy list.

[0031] In view of the foregoing, there is a method for presenting a buddy
list according to groups as shown in FIG. 5. The method is implemented
based on groups set up by a user and buddies designated to each group by
the user. As shown in FIG. 5, the user firstly sets up two groups:
"Ncuhome" and "classmates", and designates buddies for each of the two
groups to make the IM client display the two groups separately. Whether
each buddy is online or offline is specified by an icon preceding the
username of the buddy. Further, since the manner of recording grouping of
buddies shown in FIG. 3 is adopted, one buddy may appear in several
groups, for example, the buddy named "M Qun-Ncuhome" in FIG. 5 is in two
buddy groups at the same time.

[0032] As can be seen, one buddy may appear in multiple groups on the
above IM platform for presenting a buddy list, which brings inconvenience
to the grouping and management of buddies. Further, the presenting manner
is fixed and can only present groups defined by users.

[0033] In view of the foregoing, as shown in FIG. 6, which is a flowchart
illustrating a method for presenting a buddy list on an IM platform in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the method for
presenting a buddy list on an IM client operated by a user may include
steps of: S1, recording, at an IM server, a buddy list of each user,
detailed information of each user, a current status of each user; S2,
obtaining, by the IM client from the IM server after the user logs on the
IM server via the IM client, a buddy list of the user, detailed
information of a buddy of the user and a current status of the buddy; S3,
receiving, by the IM client, an instruction from the user for selecting a
presenting manner, grouping and sorting buddies in the buddy list of the
user based on the buddy list of the user, the detailed information of the
buddy and the current status of the buddy; S4, presenting, by the IM
client, the buddy list after grouped and sorted.

[0034] In S1, the buddy list may include a list of buddy identifications
(ID) and configurations of the user for the buddies. The list of buddy
IDs is a set of buddy IDs which are generated gradually during usage of
the IM platform by the user who often utilizes the function of adding a
buddy (or contact). The configurations for the buddies may include many
aspects of information, such as grouping information of the buddies
defined by the user, and information of a priority level defined by the
user for each buddy. The detailed information of a user may include
information, such as the latest logon time of the user, which another
user may be interested in. The current status of a user may include
online and offline statuses, such as busy, away, mute, invisible, etc.
The conventional presenting of a buddy list is fixed, and can only
present groups defined by users. But according to the embodiment, the IM
server records more information in S1 which forms the basis for grouping
buddies in a buddy list in a new way.

[0035] In S2, after logging on the IM server via the IM client, the user
is able to obtain information of a buddy whom the user is interested in
from the IM server. The information may include the buddy list, buddy
groups defined by the user, the latest logon time of a buddy and the
current status of a buddy. For convenience in processing, the information
can be organized in a certain data structure, e.g., a relation database
with the buddy IDs as a main keyword may be set up and each buddy ID may
be associated with information including which group the buddy ID belongs
to according to definitions of the user and the latest logon time of the
buddy ID.

[0036] In S3, the user may choose a keyword which the user is interested
in, and the IM client performs grouping and sorting of the information
according to the keyword to form a new grouping manner of the buddy list.
Besides groups defined by the user, the groups may also be formed based
on the latest logon time of each buddy, the current status of each buddy
and so on. For example, grouping by the logon time includes grouping and
sorting buddy IDs according to the logon time of the buddies so that
buddies logged on within a period of time forms a group. Through S3, the
user may have the buddies grouped in a his/her preferred manner and have
the groups or buddies in each group sorted, i.e., grouping buddies based
on the buddy list, or based on the detailed information of the user such
as groups defined by the user, the latest logon time of the buddies
and/or the current statuses of the buddies, and then sorting the groups
or buddies in each group based on the buddy list and/or the detailed
information of the user and/or the current status of the user.
Specifically, if the user is interested in a feature of buddies and data
about the feature has been recorded by the IM server, the buddies can be
grouped and sorted according to the feature, i.e. the keyword chosen by
the user. If the data about the feature has not been recorded by the IM
server, the user may add the feature into the configurations for the
buddy list for the grouping, thus enriches the presenting manners of the
buddy list. Thereby, there is expansibility of grouping presenting
manners of a buddy list. In addition, due to the sorting operation, the
grouping of buddies of the user can avoid grouping a buddy into multiple
groups as in the prior art. Finally, the buddy list processed through the
grouping and sorting in S3 is presented to the user by a user terminal in
S4.

[0037] In addition, since the buddy list of each user, the detailed
information of each user and the current status of each user may change,
the buddy list and detailed information of a user recorded by the IM
server will be updated each time the user logs on the IM server from an
IM client, and the current status of the user recorded in the IM server
will be updated in real time depending on operations performed by the
user at the IM client, so as to keep those information accurate.

[0038] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a primary structure of a
system for presenting a buddy list on an IM platform in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the system
for presenting a buddy list on an IM platform includes an IM client 1 and
an IM server 2. The IM server 2 includes a buddy database 41 recording a
buddy list for each user, a user information database 42 recording
detailed information of each user, and a status database 31 recording a
current status of each user. The IM client 1 includes a grouping and
sorting module 13 adapted to group and sort buddies in a buddy list, and
a buddy list presenting module 14 which is connected to the grouping and
sorting module 13 and is adapted to present the buddy list according to a
result of the grouping and sorting from the grouping and sorting module
13. After a user logs on the IM server 2 via the IM client 1, the IM
server 2 may update data relevant to the user in the buddy database 41,
the user information database 42 and the status database 31. Further, the
user may query the buddy database 41, the user information database 42
and the status database 31 for the buddy list, detailed information of a
buddy and a status of the buddy. The user may also instruct the grouping
and sorting module 13 to group and sort the buddies in the buddy list
based on the buddy list, the detailed information of a buddy, and the
status of the buddy, and then use the buddy list presenting module 14 to
present, on the IM client 1 of the user, a buddy list processed through
the grouping and sorting.

[0039] Refer to FIG. 8 to FIG. 11 each of which illustrates a structure of
a system for presenting a buddy list on an IM platform in accordance with
embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating
a general structure of a system for presenting a buddy list on an IM
platform in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The
system in the embodiment mainly includes an IM logon server 30 of the
user, a buddy server 40 which is directly connected to the IM logon
server 30 and is adapted to store buddies of the user, an IM client
connected to the IM logon server 30 and adapted to modify and present a
buddy list. The IM client can be divided into an IM user terminal 10 and
an IM buddy terminal 20 according to different processing aspects of the
system. Different names of the user terminal and the buddy terminal are
merely for differentiating the user and his buddy, but do not mean they
are different in structures or functions. The IM buddy terminal 20 is a
buddy in a buddy list of the IM user terminal 10. Operations of the IM
buddy terminal 20 (e.g., logon, status modifications, etc.) may be
reflected in the presenting of the buddy at the IM user terminal 10.

[0040]FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a server
in a system for presenting a buddy list on an IM platform in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention. The buddy server 40 includes
a buddy database 41, a user information database 42, an information
processing interface 43 connected to the two databases and adapted to
classify and process access requests from external devices, and a
communication interface 44 connected to the information processing
interface 43 and adapted to perform communication with other modules via
a network. The information processing interface 43 is adapted to: receive
a request for querying for a buddy list forwarded by the IM logon server
30 via the communication interface 44; receive a request forwarded by the
IM logon server 30 for modifying user logon data by the IM buddy terminal
20; search in the buddy database 41 for a buddy list of the IM user
terminal 10, and search in the user information database 42 for the
latest logon time of each buddy in the buddy list.

[0041] The buddy database 41 maintains a buddy list for each user. The
buddy list includes IDs of the buddies and configurations for the
buddies. The information processing interface 43 is adapted to return IDs
of all users in the table after receiving a request for querying a buddy
list. The user information database 42 is adapted to record detailed
information of each user, such as the day of the last time when the user
logs on the IM logon server 30. The data may be stored by utilizing a
relational database. According to a common relational database, the buddy
database may be as shown in the following Table 1.

[0044]FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of an IM
logon server in a system for presenting a buddy list on an IM platform in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The IM logon
server 30 includes a buddy server accessing interface 32 for accessing
the buddy server 40, a status database 31 for recording the current
status of a user, and a communication interface 33 connected to the IM
user terminal 10 and the IM buddy terminal 20. When the IM buddy terminal
20 switches to a new status, the information is delivered to the status
database 31 via the communication interface 33. The status database 31
modifies a record of the status corresponding to the user ID in the
database. When the IM user terminal 10 queries the IM logon server 30 for
the status of a buddy, the communication interface 33 queries the status
database 31 and returns the status data of the buddy to the IM user
terminal 10. When the IM user terminal 10 queries for a buddy list, the
communication interface 33 forwards the request to the communication
interface 32 for accessing the buddy server 40 to query the buddy
database 41. When the IM logon server 30 receives a logon request from
the IM user terminal 20, the IM logon server 30 sends a request to the
buddy server 40 to record the logon time of the IM user terminal 20 into
the user information database 42.

[0045]FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of an IM
client in a system for presenting a buddy list on an IM platform in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The IM client 1
includes a logon interface 11 for sending a request to and receiving a
response from the IM logon server 30, a local buddy list module 12 for
caching a buddy list in the IM client 1, a grouping and sorting module 13
for grouping and sorting buddies in the buddy list, a buddy list
presenting module 14 for outputting a result generated by the grouping
and sorting module 13 to a screen of the user to display the buddy list.
After the user logs on via the IM user terminal 1, the IM user terminal 1
sends a request for obtaining a buddy list and grouping information to
the IM logon server 30. The buddy server accessing interface 32 forwards
the request to the buddy database 41. The IM user terminal 1 stores the
obtained buddy list and grouping information in a local machine, sends a
request for obtaining statuses and time of last logon of all buddies, and
obtains a result from the status database 31 and the user information
database 42 respectively.

[0046] Through the above modules and procedures, the IM user terminal 10
obtains information including a buddy list, grouping information,
statuses of buddies and time of last logon of the buddies. The grouping
and sorting module 13 is adapted to group, sort and display the buddies
based on the groups defined by the user, statuses of buddies and time of
last logon of buddies respectively in any of three presenting manners
according to an instruction of the user. The display effects of the three
presenting manners, i.e. the mode based on groups defined by the user,
the mode based on statuses of buddies, and the mode based on the time of
last logon of buddies, are respectively shown in FIG. 12 to FIG. 14.

[0047] It should be appreciated that those skilled in the art can make
modification and alteration to the present invention without departing
from the technical scheme and the theory of the invention, thus the
modification and alteration should be covered in the protection scope of
the claims of the present invention.